Get Expert Answers with JustAnswer

Wikipedia has become known as a catch-all of information available on the Web. It's also been known for providing inaccurate information. Yahoo Answers has quickly become a hot destination for some Q&A with the Web public. But the replies you get to your questions could be somebody's best guess.

At JustAnswer, you can be sure that you're getting answers to your questions from experts in the field. Doctors, Lawyers, Mechanics, Accountants - all kinds of professionals are available to field your important questions. A five-step certification process starts with accepting applications (including a list of qualifications), includes a bevy of tests designed by known experts in that particular field, involves peer and customer reviews and periodic monitoring. According to JustAnswer CEO Andy Kurtzig, only about 10 percent of applicants make it past the first stage of the process, so the standards are high.

And why are these experts willing to answer your questions? Because they get paid, naturally. And the user foots the bill. In a reverse auction style bid, users set the price they are willing to pay for an answer, usally in the $15 range but sometimes as little as $9. If the expert feels its a fair price, they accept the question and provide their answer. If the answer is acceptable, the user gives the green light to transfer payment. If the user is not satisfied, they can withold payment.

So why would a user be willing to pay for an expert opinion? "What they get is an expert answer to their question, personally and quickly, 24/7. Even on holidays," says Kurtzig. "We're going to be there when you need someone with expertise."

Think about the cost of getting a mechanic's opinion at your local garage, for example. The time required to get there, needing to leave your car for hours, getting an estimate and getting repair work done - if you could avoid all that and learn how to make the repair on your own - for $15 - it might be worth it. And apparently, many feel the same way. Kurtzig says that JustAnswer has 11 million registered users, supported by more than 20,000 experts. And some of those experts are being rewarded handsomely. "We have one expert in the legal category that's going to get papid about $20,000 next month," says Kurtzig.

JustAnswer also offers a referral program, akin to Amazon.com. You put a question box on your website, your site visitors can use it to ask questions and you get a commission. It could be an attractive way to present your site - your business - as a leading authority in your industry.